Love the discussion... I wrestle with my work every day. Even though I am self taught (I feel that it still shows in all my shots)...
Its hard to look at your own work and say "Yea, that's it".... Its like you are afraid to show other photographers your work because they will zoom right in on something that you completely missed... Like a trash can in the back of a Christmas portrait... Yea I see it, but I doubt the mother that paid me for it does.

But I will keep this guide in the back of my head when looking through my shots.